Eastside of the Barrow Pit The Island Center Forest is a 363-acre complex of working forest and ecological lands located in the center of Vashon Island in King County, Washington. This working forest and preserve is managed to protect the ecological values of the site, to demonstrate ecologically sustainable forest management, and to provide opportunities for low-impact recreation. The property is owned by King County and managed by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, in collaboration with the Vashon- Maury Island community. The forest/wetland complex is comprised of three adjacent properties. 80 acres in the northwest is managed by the King County Solid Waste Division as a buffer to the Vashon Transfer Station; 200 acres that form the bulk of the property were transferred to King County by Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WSDNR) and are managed by the King County Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) as "working resource lands;" 83 acres on the east end of the property were acquired by King County and the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust (VMILT) and are managed by WLRD as "ecological lands." The Forest is relatively flat and comprises eight different "eco-types"; six unique forest stands, wetland, and meadows. The site forms the headwaters of Judd Creek, and there are four tributary streams that flow south from the site into Judd Creek. Island Center Forest provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species. In particular, over 70 bird species have been identified in the vicinity of the wetland complex in the northeast corner of the site. The wetlands themselves are home to several amphibian species, including non-native bullfrogs that are threatening the quality of the wetlands.
About Island Center Forest: http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/backcountry/islandcenterforest.aspx
Island Center Forest map (PDF): https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/gis/web/VMC/recreation/BCT_IslandCenterForest_brochure.pdf